I read with interest your editorial about the Colorado Department of Transportation’s proposed expansion of Interstate 70 through north Denver and the breezy assertion that the re-route option on I-270 and I-76 would cost $4 billion. This cost needs to be appropriately substantiated considering that CDOT already has the right of way, thus no additional costs to purchase land are needed to pave more lanes. Additionally, CDOT has already planned improvements on I-270. Contrast this with the $2 billion estimate for CDOT’s preferred plan for I-70, where a 40-foot trench has to be dug; land, houses and businesses need to be purchased; numerous sewer, power, water, gas and electricity lines have to be relocated; and a system for pumping groundwater away from the trench and treating it to remove contamination for the lifetime of the highway must be implemented. Given these differences, there is no way the $4 billion estimate is credible.

The Sept. 24 Denver Post ran an article about the three public hearings being held last week regarding CDOT’s $1.8 billion proposal for I-70. The article stated up to 30 people attended the first meeting in Aurora. There was no mention in The Post of the results of the Commerce City hearing held on Wednesday or the Thursday night meeting at Denver’s Bruce Randolph Middle School.

At Thursday’s hearing, speakers included elected officials, Denver’s auditor, retired CDOT engineers, other experts and, most important, residents of the neighborhoods most severely impacted by CDOT’s preferred plan. The 30 to 40 speakers were in near unanimous opposition to the plan.

CDOT director Don Hunt’s statement in The Post that “Community leaders favor this preferred plan” was not in evidence at these meetings.

The Post’s failure to report the overwhelming grassroots opposition from the communities of Globeville, Elyria and Swansea is an absolute failure of public trust.

Chuck Cornish, Denver

This letter was published in the Oct. 2 edition.

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Kudos to Vincent Carroll for his informative and balanced presentation of the issues surrounding the deterioration of the Interstate 70 viaduct and the possible reroute of the interstate north of Denver. The only matter that was not discussed is the health problems that the highway creates for school children across Denver and, especially, at Swansea Elementary School.

The documented increased incidence of asthma and cancer for children and seniors living within a half-mile of interstate highways is reason enough to give the removal of the highway the most serious consideration. When combined with the other arguments presented in Carroll’s article, the case for CDOT to consider seriously the reroute and prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement of the reroute far outweigh the arguments against it.

Thanks again for presenting this important issue to the citizens of Denver.

Elisabeth Evans, Denver

This letter was published in the July 7 edition.

CDOT’s plan to demolish and re-engineer the elevated portion of I-70 east of I-25 is at most a Band-Aid and will do little to ease rush-hour congestion. In fact, it will make it much worse during the three- to five-year construction phase.

The alternative proposal, by contrast, incorporates the long-overdue plan for a major widening of I-270 just west of I-70, and permanently moving the small stretch of I-70 there instead. I-70 will continue to operate without disruption until the widening of I-270 is completed. An elegant switch-off, switch-on solution. (Think Stapleton and DIA.)

Besides benefiting thousands of daily commuters and users such as myself, a large land corridor is opened up for major re-development with easy access to downtown via Brighton Boulevard, already a hotbed of new development activity.
This alternative proposal is supported by, among others, city auditor Dennis Gallagher, Denver school board member Arturo Jimenez.

Reuben Espinosa, Denver

This letter was published in the July 7 edition.

Diverting I-70 traffic onto I-76 would not benefit my northwest Denver neighborhood. Inspiration Point is located practically equidistant from I-70 and I-76. The sounds, smells and soot come home to many of us equally for both highways. With northwest winds frequently prevailing, doubling I-76 traffic could make matters worse.

Time has softened my resentment of the damage these highways have done to our neighborhoods, parks, lakes, and Clear Creek Valley. The future is best served by sinking I-70 below ground level and capping it in northeast Denver. Better sound barriers, paving and landscaping along both roadways would help.

Many Denver residents use I-70 daily and have grown accustomed to its time- and distance-saving convenience.

Robert J. Lorenz, Denver

This letter was published in the July 7 edition.

Thank you to Vincent Carroll for presenting many sides of the issue of rerouting I-70 to 270 to 76 and back to I-70 west of the city.

We have asked that an environmental impact study be done to determine the effects of pollution on people living in the I-70 area.

By rerouting the traffic, 55 homes will be preserved, neighborhoods that have been decimated and divided can be restored.

The sad part is that our elected officials can have one-track minds and refuse to see a broader picture than one’s love affair with cars. Once again, it comes down to not enough money to do what is in the interest of a lower-income neighborhood.

Schools are too close to highways right now and they will be even closer with this widening process.

I live in Sunnyside neighborhood. After the area east of I-25 is widened, you can bet your bottom dollar that the push will be on to widen I-70 to the west of I-25.

The powers that be have said this widening will cost less than the rerouting. Of course, it will be less because it is a shorter distance. Let’s also add in the eventual cost of further widening of I-70 up to 76. That has not been done.

Frances Frainaguirre, Denver

This letter was published in the July 7 edition.

On “the future of I-70” and the proposal to lower the highway grade and cap it, doesn’t anyone at CDOT remember when I-70 ran below Stapleton Airport’s runways? The tunnels caused traffic slowdowns due to there being a visual impairment to drivers.

It was a blessed day when the tunnels were torn down and traffic could move unimpeded.

CDOT must design the changes to I-70 for future traffic. Our politicians are hell-bent on attracting more permanent residents. How are all these additional people going to get around?

Someone needs to be practical and look at the bigger picture instead of hand-holding neighborhoods that were destroyed a long time ago. One can’t practically bring the past back.

Widen I-70 and keep it on a surface alignment for the most efficient traffic movement. All the other ideas are just ridiculous pie-in-the-sky diversions to mucking up traffic.

Scott Budny, Conifer

This letter was published in the July 7 edition.

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Guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 150 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address, day and evening phone numbers, and may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.

To reach the Denver Post editorial page by phone: 303-954-1331

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